Week 2: Prep Your Pets

If you're like me, your pet is your child, and you'll do anything to make sure they're safe. For Week 2, I want to ensure the fur, feather, scale, and hoof babies are ready to go. There are a number of "need to have" and "nice to have" items, so build your emergency evacuation supplies in such a way that they fit the needs of you and your pet(s). I'll share what I did for my dog, Abby, and then I'll list additional resources.

Items in Abby's Go Bag

• Travel crate, travel bed, and a small towel
  • The crate is labeled with my contact information
• Food and items for eating/drinking
  • To make it easy, I put the most recently purchased bag of food in the Go Bag (and I rotate food bags every time I shop and get a new one)
  • I included bowls, a small container, a scoop, and a clip for the food bag
• Personal information, vaccination records, and prescriptions
  • I scanned the following items, emailed them to myself so I have electronic records, and also printed and added them to the bag:
    • I used this list from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), but added today's date (so I know when it was last updated), her Colorado license information (and included her tag in her bag), and her estimated date of birth
    • Rabies and vaccination records (and included her rabies tag in her bag)
  • I keep all of Abby's heartworm, flea, and tick prevention treatments in their original boxes (with the pharmacy labels and instructions) and in her bag at all times. Like her food bags, I rotate out the prescriptions every time I get a refill.
  • I included a recent photograph of Abby and me. In the event we're separated, and I don't have my phone, I can share the photo as proof to get us reunited.
• Pet first aid information
• Shirt, jacket, and socks
  • Clothing can serve a couple purposes: If it's cold, it'll keep her warm; and if she sustains an injury, a shirt or socks will help keep her from fussing at bandaged wounds or stitches
• Extra harness, collar, and light-up safety collar
• Potty patches and poop bags
• Pouch
  • One benefit of a little dog is that I can easily tuck her into a pouch and have free hands

Assuming we're both at home when I receive the "Go: Evacuate Now" alert, all I have to do is put Abby in her crate, grab her Go Bag, and leave the area. Other items that will be useful for me -- like water, bandages, blankets, etc. -- will be part of a separate weekly task list item.

How to Prepare If You're Not At Home When Your Neighborhood Must Evacuate
This is a huge concern of mine, so I've done what I can in case this is ever the scenario we experience.

• My neighbors know Abby and are aware she's at home (if she isn't with me)
• I have a sticker in a front window that I identifies there is one dog in the house
• If first responders get into the house and Abby escapes in a panic, she is microchipped

I understand the whole "put your oxygen mask on first" metaphor but, for me, it was really important to get Abby ready for wildfire early on in our preparation journey.

• Cost: No Cost
• Frequency: Check the Go Bag frequently enough to ensure that food and medications aren't expired. Depending on the seasons, have water in the car or near the door (for example, I don't keep water in the car when outside temperatures are freezing). Also depending on seasons, swap out lighter clothing for something thicker.

What do you have in your pet(s)' Go Bags? Or what did you have, but removed when you realized it wasn't necessary in an emergency situation? What other resources are useful? Let me know in the Comments.

Additional Resources To Help You Get Started

• Examples of pre-built pet emergency Go Bags, kits, and supplies (I have not tried any of these):
  • Chewy ($10 - $130)
  • Amazon ($12 - $130)
    
  • Etsy ($25 - $300)
• Identification product I use for Abby: DOG iD
  • In addition to a typical collar tag, I purchased this ID from the makers of ROAD iD because I can include more information. It's attached to Abby's leash.
    
• U.S. CDC: Build a Pet Disaster Preparedness Kit
• Ready: Prepare Your Pets for Disasters
  • This site includes tips for preparing to evacuate with large animals (horses, goats, pigs)
• American Red Cross: Pet Disaster Preparedness
  • This site includes information for livestock and companion animals; pet first aid; protection from heat, winter, and fire; and travel safety
• American Human Society: Pet Disaster Preparedness
• Best Friends Animal Society: Pet Emergency Kit Checklist and Plan
• Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region: Disaster Preparedness
  • Although a local site, there are links for how to prepare with domestic pets versus non-commercial livestock, as well as FAQs

Important Disclaimer: I am not a fire preparedness professional. I am merely sharing my research, opinions, and what I find that applies to my geographic and personal situations in hopes that it will help others. Please make sure that whatever steps and advice you follow are what is best for you.

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□️□ It’s Week 2 of our #FirePrepFriday series. This week, create a Go Bag for your pet(s). I started writing blog posts to accompany each week’s tasks, so please visit my website to read more details and find links to additional resources. www.kristaleewest.com/fireprepfrid...

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— Krista West, Ph.D. (@rsfirenerd.bsky.social) April 4, 2025 at 9:57 AM